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BlackBerry Drops Below Windows Mobile in UK Market

BlackBerry's market share in the UK has dipped below Windows Phone for the first time, according to new statistics.

In eMarketer's latest forecast of mobile phone usage in the UK, BlackBerry's plummet in popularity of the last few years continues, with figures showing it currently accounts for just 6.5 per cent of mobile phone users, and will drop further to 3.5 per cent next year. Meanwhile, Windows Phone contines to grow, rising to 7.5 per cent of users this year, and nine per cent in 2015.

Android and iOS continue to dominate the market, with 53 per cent and 30.5 per cent respectively. However, their growth has drastically slowed over the past few years as mobile penetration nears 93 per cent. Android's growth has slowed from 37.3 per cent in 2013 to a projected 10.3 per cent in 2015, while iOS' growth will drop from 31.4 per cent to 11.8 per cent in the same period.

"The demise of BlackBerry has long been documented but these numbers highlight just how far it has fallen from grace," said Bill Fisher, UK analyst at eMarketer. "Android and iOS are clearly dominant, but while Microsoft is making significant effort to grow its presence – buying Nokia's mobile phone unit and recently partnering with HTC to offer a Windows-based version of the flagship HTC One M8 – BlackBerry appears to have been treading water."